Open Up To New Tech.

If you arrive at a new technology do your best to see it proactively as something to uncover, discover its usefulness, learn the risks too, use positive languaging to see its usefulness take off. When you see the media and others discounting or fearmongering a technology, dig deeper and find your own perspective and reasoning. Self-driving cars, blockchains and digital tokens/currency are a great example.

Would we already have safer driving conditions if more senior government and business leaders, the media and others proactively talked about and influenced the use of the technology? I imagine so, especially when taking into account the risks from the prevalence of phone use while driving. We’ve heard many times that the data shows self-driving cars are safer than human drivers yet the media focuses heavily on cars being hacked. The implications of being hacked are concerning though the conversation can be more constructive and uplifting.

From the new developments around you, what are the opportunities for you as an individual?

Bento box competitiveness.

I had a sensational time recently learning how to make osaka-style okinomiyaki at a dinner party. Flipping them was good fun! I also learnt about the competitiveness around kids bento boxes at some schools in Japan. HAVE A LOOK AT THESE…. (I’m so impressed.)

Innovation.

As a new surfer I was rapt to hear about Kelly Slater’s wave pool. He and his teams have spent years innovating to create perfect, tailored waves and the results are thrilling – even if you’re not a surfer.

The Art of Learning.

“The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance” by master Josh Waitzkin is a peaceful, kind offering of clever learning and high performance tools, including insightful stories from Josh’s life in uncovering top human performance. Towards the end the steps in creating a calming trigger for high stress situations is fascinating. Enjoy this one. [I know you will Pete Spence!]

This quick “five second” tool for getting stuff done and helping you out of procrastination / a lack of action on important things is great:When you have an instinct to do something or have a great idea, immediately countdown 5-4-3-2-1 while taking action. Try it out![Wend – your clients may enjoy this one.]

At the moment when you do a Google search, your search is effectively paid for by Google’s advertising, or when you look at Facebook or Instagram, your use of the service is paid for by advertisements. Possibly the next internet will include tokens or digital money to power the activities of the internet. This is one of many reasons to get up to speed.

4 hour read or listen to get up to speed on the main aspects (4 hours goes quickly when you listen in between other activities) by master Andreas Antonopoulos~“After watching and reading loads of bitcoin, blockchain, cryptocurrency, ethereum talks and posts, I’ve found “The Internet of Money” book written by Andreas M. Antonopoulos the quickest, most engaging listen. It’ll take you from not understanding to really clever, easy-to-comprehend ideas.”

Satoshi’s original Bitcoin paper is definitely worth reading – even the Introduction on the first page as it explains the role of blockchain / cryptocurrency and going beyond third party trusted sources. Especially important to read if you are a consultant advising clients.

This Forbes podcast: “The blockchain is about to transform every trust-based interaction of our lives, from financial services to identity, from health care to our Internet of Things devices. In this podcast, host Laura Shin talks with industry pioneers across tech, financial services, health care, government and other sectors about how the blockchain and fintech will open up new opportunities for incumbents, startups and everyday people to interact more efficiently, directly and globally.”

Andreas on the future of Bitcoin
“Bitcoin will be attacked through its mining, the network, legally, and every other possible way. If you don’t think Bitcoin is going to be attacked, you’ve misunderstood what this is about. You don’t go and poke a $20 trillion industry and go, “Hey, we’re going to disrupt you!” You can’t just wait for it to roll over.”

The role of cryptocurrencies presented at Ethereal Summit 2017. I highly recommend watching this full video. The first 4 minutes highlight where banking is headed, how online currencies could become the backbone to improve many systems in the world, and how they’re also not a ‘golden chalice’. At 10:30 there’s mention of how through the blockchain you can pay for your coffee at a cafe and also directly tip the coffee farmer a very small amount without fees on either side. There are incredible supply chain opportunities as the supporting tech comes to be and great opportunities in developing countries too.

If you’re thinking of investing in Ethereum and aren’t sure where to start, this could inform you. It could also be a bit too heavy on words such as “exchanges”. If so, read below this amazing view…”…the crypto sector is much more than Bitcoin, fintech, trading and crypto currencies — it’s about building a better, decentralized, (digital) world. By using the term “decentralization” I refer to a process of redistributing functions, people, powers or things away from a central authority. The problem with centralized systems is that they lack transparency, allow for single points of failure, censorship, abuse of power and inefficiencies.” Enjoy the map.

3. Blockchain technology – going a bit further

How blockchains could change the world by McKinsey & co.“The blockchain is …a platform for truth and it’s a platform for trust. The implications are staggering, not just for the financial-services industry but also right across virtually every aspect of society.”

Examples of Blockchain uses beyond money / currency.“What if you opened Spotify and paid the artist directly?”
“Lots of great things have happened, but overall the benefits of the digital age have been asymmetrical. For example, we have this great asset of data that’s been created by us, and yet we don’t get to keep it. It’s owned by a tiny handful”

Open networks, privacy and data: As blockchains and other tech comes along to bring about greater individuals’ privacy, there’ll be more exposés on corporations selling data without customers’ full understanding. Quite possibly shared economy darlings such as Airbnb will be in the spotlight. This gives more insight (watch the first 47 seconds).

Easy Watching.

Here’s a YouTube playlist to make things even easier. It includes links above and a few more. I plan to keep adding top videos to it.

Leaving Entitlement Behind.

It’s easy to act entitled – from leaving a messy hotel room to getting a cut price service and not giving something in return (kindness, a smile, words of appreciation).

People have the potential to be more aware of their actions and their ripple effects.

As we go beyond the industrial model of work and with greater tech spotlighting poor use of data / bad behaviours, there will be more ‘human’ qualities appreciated – from people pulling for more fairness in their work to seeing the benefit of generally being a good person.

Here’s to the change that’s happening – we’re all leading it.

Favourite reads & listens

Control your news.“Regardless of the dramatic drop in crime over the last 30 years, more than half the population believes crime is worse than it was in years past.”

Kevin Kelly’s helpful Blockchain definition:“For now, think of it as a way of transferring a digital message from one party to another, where both parties can count on the integrity of the message, even when they don’t trust, or even know, each other. Right now, these messages are mostly virtual cash. But they could be any kind of information.”

Dine in more and eat a different shaped banana after watching the “War on Waste” series.

Welcome to the 32nd edition of this email. Did you know you can read past editions right here?

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True Shared Economy

WOW! Airbnb is about to turn 9. A great success and service.

They’ve still a way to go though to be a true “shared economy” example as their balance is still skewed towards the guest versus a balance with the property host.

As Airbnb drives for more hosts there’s greater supply of properties and the economies drive prices down. This leads hosts to compete on price and quite possibly opt-out of long term involvement.

The term ‘shared’ economy is about contribution from all players. After staying at a home, Airbnb’s questionnaire is just like a hotel’s. Airbnb has the opportunity to influence behaviour internationally with questions such as:

When leaving the host’s home did you leave something that’d delight the next guest?

What did you contribute to the home or host for the privilege of staying in their home?

If you’re designing new organisational systems, I imagine you’re putting in place a way to regularly seek and add shared value over time.

Here comes privacy.

As blockchains and other tech comes along to bring about greater individuals’ privacy, there’ll be more exposés on corporations selling data without customers’ full understanding. Quite possibly shared economy darlings such as Airbnb will be in the spotlight.

For your CEO and senior leaders

“We will definitely see a range of steady, incremental improvements in everyday AI. Online product recommendations will get better, your phone or car will understand your voice increasingly well and your vacuum cleaner robot won’t get stuck as often.”

“Instead of replacing jobs, our overall quality of life will go up. For example, right now few people can afford a personal assistant, or a full-time life coach. In the near future, we’ll all have (a virtual) one!

“It’s likely that a significant fraction of jobs will be under threat over the coming decade. It’s important to note that this won’t necessarily be divided by blue-collar versus white-collar, but rather by which occupations are easily automatable.”

Great online presence

Writing these emails continues to delight me. I’m adding this email and those sent in the past to LinkedIn as articles and possibly on Medium so people checking me out virtually ‘get’ what I’m fascinated by and my approach.

“Lots of great things have happened, but overall the benefits of the digital age have been asymmetrical. For example, we have this great asset of data that’s been created by us, and yet we don’t get to keep it. It’s owned by a tiny handful”

“The blockchain is …a platform for truth and it’s a platform for trust. The implications are staggering, not just for the financial-services industry but also right across virtually every aspect of society.” McKinsey & co.

Current prices of cryptocurrencies. Last week there were 863 currencies listed here and now…

If you’re thinking of investing in Ethereum and aren’t sure where to start, this could inform you. It could also be a bit too heavy on words such as “exchanges”. If so, read below this amazing view…

Book a 45 minute session with me to get a quick-start on learning about Blockchain tech and cryptocurrencies, setting up an online wallet, ask your current questions and receive tailored links.Get involved fast.